Liverpool transfer news: £33m winger meets idol Sadio Mane to hold key talks

One of the most underrated Liverpool players is probably Sadio Mane, and he's inspiring a new generation of African talent.

Mane doesn't get the plaudits he deserves but during his time at Anfield he was up there as one of the best players in the world. In his heyday no one could stop the Senegalese legend.

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Alongside Mohamed Salah, Mane will go down as one of the best African players to have ever played in the Premier League. He is in a pantheon alongside the likes of Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba.

Since leaving Liverpool, Mane has continued to lead by example and he's now doing some brilliant work off the pitch as well.

Mane has invested in football clubs and has been involved in a number of charitable contributions in his homeland Senegal. He's also becoming a key figure in guiding the next generation of African talent.

Including one of the most exciting young footballers in the Premier League at the moment.

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We've written about Yankuba Minteh recently and why we think he's destined for Liverpool. The Gambian international was on the club's radar prior to his move to Brighton in the summer of 2024.

Since then he's quietly becoming one of the best young players in the Premier League. Last season, he stepped up in some of Brighton's biggest matches, including scoring goals against Chelsea and Manchester United.

Still very young, Minteh has all the ingredients to become a world-class footballer. Someone who could suit the Reds very well. It helps that he already has a connection with Arne Slot, having played under him at Feyenoord.

Now, Minteh is also rubbing shoulders with a Liverpool legend in Sadio Mane.

He met with the club icon earlier this week according to The Voice of Sports on Instagram.

"This wasn’t just a casual meet-up — it was a meaningful exchange about football, leadership, and the future of African talent," the caption read alongside an image of Mane and Minteh.

Mane's agent, Bakary Bojang also commented:

“What an inspiring meeting we had today."

This was a special meeting for Minteh because he has previously described Sadio Mane as his favourite player and his 'inspiration.'

He's still only just 20-years-old but already it seems like he has the potential to go very far in the game. No player has the same linear career path but at the same age, Mane was only playing for Red Bull Salzburg.

The fact that Minteh is already playing in the Premier League and putting in strong performances suggests that he has the potential to even surpass the achievements of his Liverpool idol.

With the youngster having that connection with Slot, Liverpool having previously been interested in his services and Minteh seeing Mane as an inspiration, a move to Anfield just feels like it's written in the stars at some point in the future.

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Especially if Minteh continues to catch the eye, he's got everything to be the perfect winger in Slot's system.